My friends, three weeks ago, our Party and our country suffered a great loss. But as I look out on this New Democrat team, I understand why Jack was filled with hope and optimism for Canada’s future, even in his very last days.

One of Jack Layton’s greatest legacies is this team that surrounds me. An experienced team that represents every region of the country. A team that knows what it believes and knows the job Canadians sent us here to do.

My friends, we can put families first. We can have real action on the economy. We can start to move Canada forward. You and I know this important work can’t wait.

In these tough times, there really is no time to waste.

It seems that every day under this Conservative government, the bad news just keep rolling in. Unemployment is going up, not down. Life is getting more expensive…not less. And every day there are more and more warnings that Canada may slip into recession.

But while everyday Canadians know there’s a problem, Stephen Harper doesn’t seem to get it.

In a time of declining stock markets, Stephen Harper wants you to roll the dice with even more of your retirement savings. To double down on the same private plans that have already failed so many Canadians.

It’s wrong for Canadians. It’s wrong for the economy. And New Democrats are going ensure secure pensions are at the forefront of our economic agenda this fall.